Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid out his vision for making India a USD 10-trillion economy, and the third-largest in the world, saying he wants the nation to have countless startups, and be a global leader in electric vehicles.

Speaking at the Global Business Summit here, he said his government inherited an economy in complete policy paralysis, plagued by runaway inflation and rising current account deficit.

Reforms in the last four and half years have changed the picture. “Change is clearly visible today,” he said.

BJP-led NDA rule witnessed a highest post-liberalisation growth rate of 7.4 per cent, and lowest inflation of less than 4.5 per cent, he said adding that reforms like goods and services tax (GST) have laid a solid foundation for higher gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

Under the present regime, there is a competition to attract more investment and to build houses for the poor, he said.

There is a competition to see if all habitations are connected with road first or all homes with gas connection first, as well as a competition to get 100 per cent sanitation first, or 100 per cent electrification first, he asserted, adding that there is a competition between ministries and states on development for achieving targets.

“During 2014-19, the country would register an average growth of 7.4 per cent and the average inflation would be less than 4.5 per cent. Post liberalisation of the Indian economy, this will be the highest rate of average growth and lowest rate of average inflation witnessed during the period of any government,” he said.

“It was said that governments cannot be pro-growth and pro-poor at the same time, but people of India are making it possible,” Modi added.

“The country was facing total policy paralysis (before 2014). This was preventing the economy from reaching the level which it was worthy of. The global fraternity was worried about the health of this member of the fragile-five club. There was a perception of surrender to existing circumstances,” he said.

But after 2014, hesitations have been replaced by hope, obstacles by optimism and issues by initiatives, he said. “Today change is clearly visible.”

“With these goals in mind, let us re-dedicate ourselves to create a New India of our dreams, he said.

Having missed the past three industrial revolutions, India, he said, is an active contributor to the fourth industrial revolution.

“What happened in the past is not in our hands, but what will happen in the future is firmly in our hands,” he said recounting the steps taken by his government to improve the economy.

He credited the progress made to the support and partnership of the people of the country, saying the progress made since 2014 has given him confidence that nothing is impossible.

“Namumkin ab mumkin hai (impossible is now possible),” he said.

‘Namumkin ab mumkin hai’ is BJP’s re-election slogan for the 2109 general elections.

“For decades, a narrative was made that certain things are just impossible in India. It was said that making a clean India was impossible, but the people of India are making it possible. It was said that a corruption-free government in India was impossible, but the people of India have made it possible.

“It was said that it is impossible to remove corruption from the process of giving people their dues, but people of India are making it possible. It was said that it is impossible for the poor to leverage the power of technology, but the people of India are making it possible.

“It was said that removing discretion and arbitrariness in policy making was impossible, but people of India are making it possible. It was said that economic reforms in India were impossible, but the people of India are making it possible. It was said that governments cannot be pro-growth and pro-poor at the same time, but people of India are making it possible,” he said.

Highlighting his government’s industry-friendly policies, he said a business with a turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh does not have to register for goods and services tax (GST), one with a turnover of up to Rs 60 lakh does not have to pay any income tax and a business with a turnover of up to Rs 1.5 crore is eligible for the composition scheme.